cantfindaname

Is it possible to get a quality aftermarket converter, valve body and installation for under $2,000? Or am I lookin at more like $3,000.

John Rodriguez

You can get an input shaft, single-disk converter, and valvebody for around 2000-2100 installed

800-ish for a tc
600 for input shaft
400 for vb
2-300 for install

SuperDave4x4

I was quoted 500 for TC install.....and that was at a respectable diesel shop too.

SolarRam

I just bought a TC, VB, Input shaft, and some other pieces of the pkg for $3k but I get about $700 back if I send in my cores.
DTT

John Rodriguez

Well most shops will charge 250 for dropping / replacing the transmission. Adding a torque converter is NOTHING SPECIAL. In fact, the TC comes off when the tranny does. So 500 seems a bit on the high side.

rowlrag

$500 WOW, I get paid commision and boy I'd like my % of that when I do the Dodge TC in 2hrs. 4 of those a day for a week would be a FAT check! $250 is a very reasonable labor to pay.

TexasCTD

John,

Do you know if that is all you need to beef up the tranny if you want to play a little bit? Or is there alot of benefit to doing the WHOLE deal?

I don't anticipate me doing any 4 wheel drive 20 psi launches at a drag strip. So that said, is it really necessary to build up the whole tranny if you are shooting for say 5-600 hp?

More than likely I will probably just want to play on a dyno some.

Dodgezilla

I was quoted up to $700.00 to do mine!! I ended up paying $400.00. I don't think you can get anything done for $250.00 these days.....

John Rodriguez

Heh. A tc/vb/input shaft is good for 400-450whp. Higher line pressures are needed to keep the clutches inside the transmission alive. Since the stock TC sucks so hard, most people want to just drop in a new tc. The problem is once all the power the engine makes actually goes past the input shaft, the stock clutches don't have enough pressure holding them. You need higher line pressures, which means you need billet servos as the plastic ones will crack. Then once you do that, you need the 2nd gear lever. And since you're in there, you might as well add more clutches. In my opinion, a TC/vb/input shaft is good upgrade for those NOT wanting over 450whp. It's not so much the HP that kills these transmissions, it's the weight of the truck and the torque the engine produces that does. (durr). I'm no expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night..

cantfindaname

Awesome info, thanks. I would most likely have HMR install my T/C,VB, and shaft. Prom their price list it looks like around $3k. I thought about the tranny mods plus new injectors with the Volumizer and possibly a new turbo. I hope those tranny mods are enough.

rmalone

Like JR said 450 hp is about it for that level of tranny. How you drive it would make a big difference, but it is hard to drive "nice and easy" if you do injectors a turbo and a box. If you want to go to those kind of mods spring for the whole tranny, then its done and you can add all the power any sane man could want.

I myself passed on the billet output and now I'm kicking myself. . I'll still end up with it but it will cost a fair bit more than it would have while the trans was on the bench the first time.

abc4yew

Guys, Adding the output shaft later doesn't require taking everything apart so don't sweat it. When it breaks put in a billet. It is rare for it to break even sledpulling or towing heavy. It you drop a twin disc clutch or lock the triple disc TC in second gear in four low with 25psi boost you will snap the intermediate shaft if it isn't billet and maybe even if it is. The output shaft when it breaks will just drop a dead shaft. TWIWT.ks